In March, Bogie Uzdejczyk won the Tri-State stop at Castle Billiards in East Rutherford, NJ by virtue of a coin toss. At 4 a.m., on a Sunday morning, he and Ra Hanna opted for that alternative to a possible double elimination final. Two months later, on Saturday, May 7, Uzdejczyk became both the official and actual winner of a $750-added, 10-Ball event that drew 32 entrants to Sandcastle Billiards in Edison, NJ.
Uzdejczyk went undefeated on the day, in spite of a couple of cliff-hanging, double hill victories, over Ken DeCuire, among the winners' side final eight (third round) and Keith Adamik, among the winners' side final four. The first victory over Adamik put Uzdejczyk into the hot seat match versus Tony Ignomirello, who'd won a forfeit victory over Paul Raval. Uzdejczyk gained the hot seat with a 9-7 win over Ignomirello and waited for Adamik's return.
Adamik moved over to take on Raphael DaBreo, who'd gotten by Basdeo Sookhai 7-3, and Ricardo Mejia 7-4. Adamik advanced to the quarterfinals with a 7-4 victory over DaBreo. Raval's forfeiture from among the winners' side final four, set up a quarterfinal between Adamik and DeCuire, who'd defeated Richard Ng and Ed Culhane, both 7-5, and then benefited from a second Raval forfeit. Adamik downed DeCuire 7-5 and turned to face Ignomirello in the semifinals.
Adamik survived a double hill struggle versus Ignomirello for a second chance against Uzdejczyk in a true double elimination final. Some 10-balls on the break, and a couple of combinations finished the finals quickly, with Uzdejczyk coming out on top 7-5 and chalking up his first actual and second official Tri-State victory of the year.
Thanks were extended to the "Sandman" for his generous support of the Tri-State Tour and the sport, as well as sponsors Sterling-Gaming, Ozone Billiards, Ron Tarr Cues, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, Human Kinetics, and Dr. Dave Billiards Instructional Products.
